Cover Stories
Who’s Watching Your Web Trail?
The U.S. House of Representatives voted last week to block the Federal Communications Commission from moving forward with rules meant to safeguard internet users’ browsing history from exploitation by Internet Service Providers, as well as to prevent the federal agency from creating similar rules in the future.
Tucson Salvage
When Frank Luna returned my call last week I no idea who was on the line.
Baja Beer Fest Ticket Giveaway
Take it easy this weekend and enjoy two of everybody’s favorites: Locally made things and booze. The Baja Beer Festival (happening at Rillito Park, 4502 N. First Ave., this Saturday, April 22 from 5 to 9 p.m.) will feature more than 200 beers from 50 breweries. The details: All general admission tickets include admission, one…
In the Flesh: Tucson Noise Symposium and a Brief Conversation with Negativland’s Mark Hosler
Noise? Its origins rise from the futurist art movement of the early 20th century. It kicked on speed, technology, youth and violence, and was implicit in the development of noise as an aesthetic. Jefim Golyscheff’s “Antisymphony,” a 1919 concert performed in Berlin, is a key example of music embracing a kind of anti-instrumentation, lots repetition…
Rep. Grijalva Sues Trump Administration Over Border Wall
Congressman Raul Grijalva (AZ03) has teamed up with the Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity to sue the Trump administration over the proposed border wall. The suit seeks to ensure that environmental laws—and all the red tape and studies that come with them—are enforced as Trump moves forward with his beautiful wall. “American environmental laws are…
In 13 Years, Every Private School and Home-Schooled Student Could Have a Voucher
Coming to a private school near you, and the home-school down the block: taxpayer-funded ESA money for children whose parents never considered sending their kids to a district or charter school. Courtesy of a bill Ducey signed a few days ago, the Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, aka Vouchers on Steroids, will soon be available to every…
Streets of This Town: The Nervous System
“Streets of This Town” is a little daily photo series featuring random pics I take on long walks through Tucson—to sort of coincide with Tucson Salvage.
Dispatches From Country Thunder No. 5: Dorado, Joe Nichols Worth the Price of Admission
FLORENCE—It was a country music lovers dream Saturday, with longtime and well-respected road warriors Randy Rogers Band setting the table for Frankie Ballard, Joe Nichols and the industry’s potentially hottest act—Thomas Rhett. Rogers was brutally honest with the crowd—unsurprising as he’s made a career out of not being fuzzy on his feelings about good music.…
Casa Video Top 10
Renting movies, in my humble opinion, has become a lost pastime in the face of Netflix, Hulu and HBO GO. As convenient as these services may be, there’s something about opening up a DVD case and popping it into a player that makes me nostalgic for a simpler time and can’t be replaced. For those…
RIP, Author and Activist Kathryn Ferguson
Kathryn Ferguson stands in one of her favorite haunts in the Tumacacori mountains, near the Arizona-Mexico line. As a border activist and volunteer with the Samaritans, the Tucson native hiked dangerous desert trails for 13 years, putting out water and food for migrants at risk. She wrote about her experiences in two award-winning books, The…
Dispatches From Country Thunder No. 4: Hometown Boy Comes Full-Circle
FLORENCE—Artists playing Country Thunder nearly 15 years after their first performance are often in the latter stages of their careers. For Arizona-native Austin Burke, he’s just getting started. The babyfaced, early 20’s country singer is just getting his career off the ground, with his first single—”Sleepin’ Around”—already topping one million spins on Spotify (more on…
Boris Needs a Home
HI, I’m Boris! I’m a handsome 14 year old boy and I need a new home! I’m trained to use my litter box and love to be petted. I’m looking for a home where I can get the love and attention a deserve! Some people look over me because of my age, but I think…
Dispatches From Country Thunder No. 3 Dierks, Others Bring the Thunder
FLORENCE —Day two at Country Thunder is when crowds really packed it in and the artists on both stages did not disappoint. Headliner Dierks Bentley’s shows are known for being can’t miss and he didn’t disappoint, though he led off with a song that many may not have expected—the title track from “Up on the…
Streets of This Town: ‘Bottles Empty, Boys Get Brave’
“Streets of This Town” is a little daily photo series featuring random pics I take on long walks through Tucson—to sort of coincide with Tucson Salvage.
In the Flesh: Some Observations of, and Words From, Cobra Family Picnic and Trees Speak at Last Weekend’s Warped Psych Show
Psych and ambient-noise devotees gathered at The Flycatcher last Saturday night. The psych/space noisniks Cobra Family Picnic kicked things off. Frontman Randall Dempsey might have the dedication to craft as The Lizard King—even left the stage when the booze ran out to fetch a beer from the bar. Rock ’n’ roll! We talked to lanky…
Daily Dispatches from Country Thunder No. 2: The Eminently Forgettable Chris Young!
FLORENCE –– If country music was represented by the 2016 Republican presidential contenders, then it was Jeb Bush on stage Thursday night at Country Thunder in the form of the eminently forgettable Chris Young. Please clap. He seems like a swell guy, and as he meandered his way through his low-energy set of country radio…
Daily Dispatches from Country Thunder, No. 1: Brandon Ray Kinda Rocks It.
FLORENCE— A little Nirvana and then it was Lit and Country Thunder was, well, lit, thanks to the rock-influenced set of West Texas native Brandon Ray. As the opening act for Country Thunder on Thursday, Ray’s crowds won’t be the biggest the main stage area will see, but he knew it was his job to…
Laughing Stock: Support Your Homies in Phoenix this Weekend
Portland transplant Kristine Levine won a slot for Tucson among headliners at the Bird City Comedy Festival in Phoenix April 6 through 9. Four other stand-up comics and two improv teams round out the cast of current and former Tucsonans selected for the weekend of comedy that’s attracting performers and fans from all over the…
Bad Behavior
It’s been 10 years since alt-rockers The Maine formed in Tempe, Arizona and quickly released the Stay Up, Get Down EP.
The Skinny
If someone doesn’t act soon, you can kiss the idea of citizen initiatives goodbye
The Death of José Antonio
Here’s what we know about the death of José Antonio Elena Rodriguez.
A New Home
Borderlands Theater has always provided us a lot to think about, and not just about issues pertaining to our geographic border with Central America.
Ghost of Itself
Ghost in the Shell (1995) a groundbreaking, subversive piece of Japanese anime, gets a live action redo with Scarlett Johansson sporting a form fitting flesh suit and a bunch of plot enhancers aimed at making the story more humanistic and straightforward.
Just Getting Started
The afternoon lunch rush is all but over.
Second Chance Cupcakes
A local bakery, Tilted Halos, is no ordinary dessert shop.
Editor’s Note
I’m not sure when it happened. I’m not sure when I turned into a middle-of-the-road political populist.
Dust Devil
I feel an urge to be gone from here
Police Dispatch
A man who ransacked a car left no evidence of his entry, and no fingerprints …
Noise Annoys
Some of the best music in recorded history fulfills an urgent need to escape the mundane realities of everyday life.
Police Dispatch
Someone trying to terrify a local mother apparently didn’t do any background research
Sinister Substitutes
Ethics is a hazy argument when it comes to marijuana.
Preaching the Bad Testament
If you’ll turn to your Bible for a moment, you may notice that the Bad Testament is nowhere to be found.
Growing Old with Moz
Screw the Clash. The jocks and popular kids had already ruined “the only band that matters” by playing Combat Rock to death before I could even get my learner’s permit. It fell to a different gang of British lads to soundtrack my teens: The Smiths.
